Frustrated With

Charter Revision Process

To the Editor:

Last Tuesday night at the meeting of the Charter Review Commission, a private communication from me to Al Cramer, the chairman of that commission, was made public in response to a Freedom of Information Act request by John Voket of The Newtown Bee. Anyone interested can read that e-mail communication at www.independentpartyofnewtown.com.

I sent the e-mail as a result of my continued frustration at what I perceive to be a Charter Revision process that was focused more on increasing the convenience for current public officials than on making meaningful changes for the benefit of the citizens of Newtown. That frustration also led me to enter the race for a seat on the Legislative Council from District 2.

I believe strongly in the principle that public officials are accountable to the public, checks and balances for the appropriate operation of local government should be formally prescribed in the laws of the town, and that all town government processes and decisionmaking should be transparent, and purposefully made available to citizens of Newtown for review and critique. It is my opinion the commission’s activities have been overly influenced by forces outside the commission that have strong interest in keeping these principles from being applied to the Newtown Charter in this current revision cycle.

When I joined the Charter Review Commission I thought I could make a difference for the better. In the early months of our efforts we had broad discussions. We explored a wide range of topics, including changing our form of government, often in heated debate. But I still had the sense we were exploring options that were truly intended to improve those things that seemed obviously wrong with our current government processes and procedures. In what turned out to be the final weeks of regularly scheduled meetings, I believe the commission was inappropriately pushed to conclude our activities, with particular emphasis on excluding discussions and items that might be considered too uncomfortable or constraining by current elected or appointed public officials.

I am running for elected office in November, along with others in the Independent Party of Newtown, because I am convinced now that the only way to create meaningful change will be through voting in a new group of elected officials who are more open and focused on what is best for the people of the community, not their own self-interest.

Thank you.

Guy Howard

Member, Charter Revision Commission

4 Main Street, Newtown                                       September 26, 2007